Quote:
Originally Posted by kartu
there is an important point which is ALWAYS forgotten by pro-copyright group. (I'm a software developer too, by the way)
The fact that someone has obtained your software illegally most of the time does NOT mean, that he/she would have payed for it, if he/she couldn't get it for free!
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This assumes there are only 2 kinds of buyers in this situation:
- Those who will obtain and use free software;
- Those who will not use software if it costs anything
When in fact, there are 3 kinds of buyers:
- Those who will obtain and use free software;
- Those who will not buy or use software if it costs anything
- Those who will buy software if they can't find it for free
Ask Microsoft or Adobe if sales of Windows, MS Office, Photoshop, InDesign, etc, have dropped to nothing because you cannot get them for free anymore.
There are plenty of people out there who may be willing to take free products that they want, but failing to find free versions, OR deciding that obtaining free products entails too much trouble or risk, will pay for them instead of walking away.
They are generally known as honest citizens (none of which, apparently, are running the government in Switzerland).
Oh, yeah: Swiss chocolate
SUCKS. Buy South American cocoa.